University of Manitoba's medical school welcomes incoming students at ceremony

Lauren Scott · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 19, 2026 8:06 PM EDT | Last Updated: August 20

A group of more than 100 future doctors walked across the stage carrying white lab coats as a crowd filled with their loved ones clapped, cheered and snapped pictures at Winnipeg's Centennial Concert Hall. 

The University of Manitoba's Max Rady College of Medicine held a ceremony Wednesday to welcome incoming students in the class of 2030 to their first year of medical school. 

This year, 137 new students had their first white coats presented to them by experienced doctors and educators before the class recited an ethical pledge for physicians in unison. 

"We're going to educate you with everything you need, and you're going to be outstanding clinicians going forward," said Dr. Peter Nickerson, the medical college's dean and a U of M alumnus.  

Nickerson said the incoming students come from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds, so that their future practices can better reflect the communities they serve. 

The class ranges in age from 21 to 49, a release from the medical school said. There are 11 Indigenous students and 51 students connected to rural communities. Five French-speaking students are enrolled in the bilingual stream.

"With the class of 2030's diverse life experiences and backgrounds, I know you will learn from one another and from your teachers to make the most of this opportunity," Nickerson said, adding he hopes classmates will become "lifelong friends," with bonds that last across entire medical careers. 

Dr. Sara Goulet, associate dean of admissions with the medical college, told the auditorium filled with future physicians and their families that each student brings a unique set of strengths and personal experiences — and they will eventually share those with patients. 

"Carry those with you because we do need diversity in our collection of physicians," said Goulet, who is Métis and provides care to remote Indigenous communities. 

"We need all of you to bring those strengths that you've already collected along your path into our physician group," she said, adding she looks forward to serving Manitobans alongside these future doctors. 

Medical student Taylor Tutkaluke said Wednesday's ceremony feels like the official start of the school year and the next four years of her academic career. 

Tutkaluke, who hopes to be a family doctor, said she's looking forward to learning as much as she can while taking opportunities across many different streams of medicine. She's keen to use that knowledge to help people in underserved rural communities.

"Especially in the rural setting, I see a lot of areas that I want to tap into because I see how important the need is for family physicians, which is something I'm interested in doing throughout school," she said. 

Longtime best friends Toni Fatoye and Charlotte Kowall got to celebrate starting medical school together Wednesday after cheering each other on "every step of the way," Kowall said. 

Kowall, whose mother is a family doctor, said she is excited to connect with patients and be part of a "force of physicians that will hopefully promote health equity for everybody."   

• University of Manitoba honours largest class of medical students at welcoming ceremony

Fatoye said she is looking forward to eventually using her medical education to help fill a gap for patients experiencing health-care barriers.  

Amy Gudmundson, who aspires to make an impact in her community as a doctor, said there was a real sense of "collective joy" among the new students Wednesday. 

"Today brought a really good sense of unity to the class. We're all in this together," Gudmundson said.

WATCH | U of M honours latest class of future doctors: